Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by long duration and repeated relapse. This study explored the preventive effect of tangeretin (TAN) and 5-hydroxy-6,7,8,3′,4′-pentamethoxyflavone (5-HPMF) on RA, and the underlying molecular mechanism based on a rat model stimulated by bovine type II collagen (BIIC). After the intervention of TAN or 5-HPMF (TAN/5-HPMF) for 5 weeks, the RA lesions and autophagy levels of the synovial tissue were significantly reduced, and the ROS content and HO-1 expression level were down-regul...